Chapter 14:
I was torn away from my perfect dream by Thorin's voice.
"We need to leave before the elves realize we are awake."
I felt a strange mixture of sadness from waking up from such a wonderful dream, and happiness that I could now see the real Kili. I didn't care if we never made it to Erebor, as long as I had the real Kili, the gold and jewels did not matter.
"Where is Gandalf?" someone asked.
"He is going to meet us in the mountains," replied Thorin. "He has some business to discuss with the elves."
During the night Kili and I had shifted positions. He was laying on his back and I was resting my head on his chest. I honestly would have been perfectly happy staying like that all day. But Thorin was making his rounds, waking everyone up, and I didn't want to get yelled at. So I sat up slowly and looked down at Kili, who was grinning.
"Morning, love."
I groaned. "It's too early to be awake!"
"Much too early," agreed Kili, distractedly. He reached up and trailed his fingers through my long hair.
"The lovebirds are awake, I see," said Fili, standing over us and ruining the mood.
I blushed and Kili rolled his eyes at his brother. Then, I felt a shiver go through me; the morning air was cool. I realized with a jolt that I was still wearing the elf dress, which looked much more revealing in the light from the sunrise than it did last night.
"Kili," I said, wrapping my arms around my chest, self-consciously. "My clothes are inside."
Kili sat up and draped one of the blankets over my shoulders, glancing around to make sure no one was looking at me.
"Come on," he said, helping me up. "We'll go get them."
We told Fili and Bilbo where we were going and we hurried inside. Everything looked different in the light and I worried about not being able to find the right room. Eventually we found it, though.
Arwen had brought my clothes back as promised and they were waiting-clean and mended-for me in a neat, folded pile on the bed.
"I'll just wait outside," said Kili
"No!" I said and then blushed. "I'll just go behind the screen. Please don't leave me alone..."
Wow, I sound pathetic!
"Alright," Kili chuckled.
I grabbed my clothes and quickly got dressed behind the screen where the tub had been. I made sure Arwen's potion was tucked safely in my sock before going back out to Kili.
He was leaning against the wall, waiting for me. I smiled at him, but he gave me a dark look.
"What-"
I was cut off as he suddenly crossed the room and pushed me against the wall, kissing me fiercely. I kissed him back, my hands automatically tangling in his hair. Kili kissed down my neck and I tried my best not to faint. His hands were at my waist, but slowly slid up under my shirt, along my stomach.
I gasped upon feeling his hands on my bare skin. Kili kissed my lips again, smiling. Then-all to soon- he pulled away.
All I could do was stare at him as I tried to get my breathing back to normal.
"We probably won't be alone for a while," was his explanation.
"Oh," I said, still out of breath.
"Come on, love, we should go back to the others," he said, kissing me once more.
"No. Let's stay here," I said against his lips.
Kili laughed and took my hand. We went back into the hall. As we were walking, Lady Arwen walked past and I was afraid she would tell her father that we were awake. But she just gave me a small smile.
"Thank you," I mouthed, wanting to make sure she knew I was grateful.
Her smile grew and she nodded in understanding.
We left Rivendell quickly. Bilbo looked very sad that we were leaving. When I asked him if he was okay, he just shrugged sadly.
I walked besides Kili as we began to climb the Misty Mountains. The terrain was rocky and hard to walk on without tripping. At least for me, anyway. But Kili was quick to catch me whenever I started to fall.
The sun was high in the sky when Kili took my arm and slowed us down. We fell behind everyone else, giving us some "privacy". It wasn't really privacy; Fili was right in front of us in earshot.
"What were courtships like in your old world?"
"First off," I laughed. "We called it dating. And it was much more casual. Most people would go out on dates with a lot of different people. I guess until they found the right one to marry."
"And did you go on many of these dates?" asked Kili, looking concerned.
"No," I said giggling at the look on his face. "Only one and it went horribly."
"Good." he said, relieved. "I mean...that's too bad..."
I rolled my eyes, but laughed.
"Believe me, " I told him. "I've never felt what I feel for you with anyone else."
Kili grinned.
Great, Libby. Inflate his ego; it's just what he needs.
"So...after these 'dates', how does one go on getting married?" asked Kili.
My cheeks felt warm despite the harsh wind.
"Well, first someone has to propose. Usually it's the man, but a woman can do it too. But just for tradition's sake let's say it's the man. But women can propose too!"
I made it very clear; I didn't want a repeat of the sword fighting issue.
"Of course," said Kili, trying to hold back a smile.
"So the man would get down on one knee and profess his love to the woman and then ask for her hand in marriage. If she says yes, he gives her an engagement ring. It usually has a diamond on it, but it can really be any stone. Then they have a wedding. The woman wears a beautiful, white dress and the couple vows to always love each other no matter what," I said, sort of dreamily, I will admit. "Then there is a party with food and dancing. And the bride throws her bouquet of flowers to all of the single girls and whoever catches it is supposedly going to get married next-"
"You know so much about this!" said Kili, cutting me off.
"Of course! I've been to a few weddings and I've imagined what mine will be like."
"Weddings are rare between dwarves; there a more men then there are women."
"Yes," I said, quietly. "Bofur told me that. It's too bad because they are really quite beautiful."
Kili looked down at me and took my hand. We had both stopped walking. He brought my hand up to his mouth and kissed it.
It was as if he was promising me a good and happy future with him.
"Come on, you two!" Fili shouted at us. "Keep up!"
Reluctantly, we caught up to the company and kept climbing up the Misty Mountains. The rocky pathway got smaller and smaller until we were walking on a narrow ledge over an endless drop. I had to push myself up against the side of the mountain for both of my feet to fit. One wrong step and I would have fallen right off the side of the mountain. To make matters worse, it was raining. Not just raining, pouring buckets and buckets of water, making the path slippery. The wind was howling and threatening to blow me right off the ledge.
I walked carefully in between Kili and Fili, both of them had firm grips on my arms.
"We must find shelter!" I heard Thorin shout.
I've never agreed more!
Suddenly, the mountain shook. I lost my footing and would have fallen if both brothers had not been holding on to me. A huge boulder came hurtling towards us out of nowhere. It slammed into the mountainside above us. We pushed ourselves into the side of the mountain as rocks rained down and our path grew smaller.
"This is not just a thunderstorm!" cried Balin. "This is a thunder battle!"
What?!
A gigantic creature rose from the mountains. He was made out of the same stone as the mountains and he was hurling giant rocks as if they were skipping stones.
My scream got lost in the wind.
"Bless me, the legends are true," said Bofur in awe. "Giants; Stone Giants!"
Another Stone Giant stood up and the first one threw a boulder at it. The impact made the mountains shake and we held on the best we could. The ground began to split open.
"What's happening?" I cried.
A crack had formed in the pathway, right between the company. It was right by Kili's and my feet. It grew and we began to move apart.
"Kili!" I called, desperately reaching for him.
"Kili, take my hand," said Fili, trying to reach him too.
It was no use. We were separated now. I was with Fili and he held on to me still. It was with horror that I saw the top half of a giant rise above us. We were on one of his knees!
The rest was such a blur. Fili and I were just holding on for our lives. The giant stood up and we moved with him. I am pretty sure I screamed more than once.
Then the giant was hit with a boulder and he fell, taking us with him. As the ground approached and I was sure death was coming, I couldn't bring myself to regret being brought to Middle Earth. If I had never come, I would have never made the wonderful friends that I did and I would have never meet Kili.
I was wedged between Fili and the side of the giant's knee and I clung onto his coat. I turned my head and I saw Bilbo, looking terrified. I shut my eyes.
Goodbye Kili. I love you!
There was a jolt and a thump. I didn't feel any pain...
I opened my eyes and I was laying on top of Fili, both of us un-squished.
We're alive?
Somehow the giant's knee had not reached the side of the mountains all of the way.
We're alive!
I sat up, in shock, but relieved. I uncurled my fingers from Fili's coat. They were stiff and sore from holding on so tight.
The others rushed over to us.
"We're alright!" called Balin and everyone relaxed.
Kili ran over to us and pulled both Fili and I into a hug. I was in the middle of the embrace. Then Fili kissed my forehead, squeezed Kili's shoulders, and got up to help the others.
Kili pulled me closer and his hand stroked my hair.
"I was so worried," he murmured, rocking us back and forth. I felt tears falling down my already soaked face as everything set in. He grabbed my face and kissed me hard. Neither of us cared that the others could see. "I love you so much."
I froze in his arms.
That was the first time he said he loved me out loud.
I didn't say anything about it, but inside I was overcome with sudden joy. I was happy to be alive, happy to be with Kili again, happy to be loved. I was happy until I heard Bofur yell out,
"Where's Bilbo! Where is the hobbit?"
I looked around, wildly. I couldn't believe I didn't notice that he was missing sooner.
"There!" yelled Ori.
I turned to where Ori was pointing. I could just make out Bilbo's fingertips clinging on to the cliff.
"Get him!" said Dwalin.
Ori dove forwards to grab Bilbo, but accidentally made him slip further down the mountain.
"Bilbo!" I cried out trying to run to him.
Kili held me back.
"Let me go!" I said angrily. "I have to help him!"
"Thorin will get him," said Kili, holding me around the waist.
Kili was right. Thorin swung down the side of the cliff, took Bilbo by the coat, and hoisted him up. The others pulled him up. Kili let me go and I hurried over to Bilbo.
Thorin was now having trouble getting back up on the ledge. Dwalin gave a great heave and managed to pull him up.
The look on his face was scary; he was fuming. He marched over to Bilbo and I.
"I thought we lost our burglar," said Dwalin, not seeing his King's face.
"He's been lost ever since he left home. He never should have come. He has no place amongst us. Dwalin, come help me find shelter!" said Thorin, bitterly.
They left and soon the others followed, leaving Kili, Bilbo, and I looking at each other in shock.
Author's note: I am sorry about the late update! It has been an insane two weeks. But I hope that you enjoyed this chapter. I promise to update sooner!